TechTalk Blog

Ask a Carbonista: How Do I Manage My Private Encryption Key?

To make backing up as simple as possible for our busy business customers, Carbonite manages your private encryption key by default so that you only have to remember your user name and password.

But we understand that different industries have different needs, and for those in the medical field, HIPAA requirements play a significant role in devising backup plans. To help our customers with their compliance efforts, Windows users have the option to manage their own private encryption keys. Managing your own private encryption key adds an extra layer of privacy and, because only you have the required key, it means that Carbonite cannot access your backup.

If you're a small business who needs to adhere to HIPAA's privacy standards, here are some tips to ensure the encryption key you manage is safe and accessible to you:

Store the private encryption key in a secure location

Keep copies in two locations – like an external hard drive in a safe in your office and on a flash drive in a safety deposit box at a local bank

Share details on where the key is stored with at least one other trustworthy person who is also authorized to access your backed up data.

Both Business and Home users can rest assured that their data and backup is secure and encrypted even if you aren't managing your own key. But for those businesses that need to adhere to HIPAA's privacy rules, it can help in your efforts to comply! Not sure if managing your key is right for your business? Give our knowledgeable sales team a call. They're always here to help!

Want to learn more about how Carbonite's cloud solutions can aid your SMB's HIPAA compliance efforts? Register now for our free November 16th webinar!